A day has passed since Harry's arrived at the Burrow and the school year will start again in almost a month. As always, he stayed at Ron's room where he also kept his things.
One night, when Harry and Ron were changing from day clothes to pajamas Ron was telling him fun facts about Chudley Cannons. But suddenly, Ron stopped.
"What?" Harry turned around when his best friend abruptly stopped, as he just finished changing into pajamas. "What is it?"
"I thought I saw bruises on your back..."
"Bruises?" That caught Harry off guard, but then he completely understood, "oh, yea, sorry about that,"
"Why do you have bruises?" Ron asked, not letting go of the question.
"That's really not thatvimportant," Harry is a actively trying to non-agressively make Ron stop questioning the bruises, or change the subject.
"Did the Dursleys do that?"
"Yes," Harry nodded, hoping that, by answering this question, Ron would stop asking more questions.
"Why do you let them hit you...?"
"I don't-!" Harry automatically started defending himself, but then stopped; does he let them hit him? Does he let them beat him up?
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ron tried but Harry immediately said, "no." To it, while looking away.
"Okay," Ron raised his palms defensively, "okay, fine, sorry,"
"You don't have to apologize-!" Harry tried.
"Look, I understand the Dursleys are a sore subject for you, but the twins said that they've overheard mom telling dad something about that you look thin... or something..." Ron said.
"I do?" That caught Harry completely off guard, he knew he was usually smaller then kids his physical age, especially when he was still in the Cupboard, but he didn't actually realize just how thin he actually was.
"No offense, but you do," Ron nodded.
"..."
Three more days have passed and when Harry and Ron were the last people about to leave the kitchen after they've finished eating lunch, mrs. Weasley spoke.
"Harry, dear, could I talk to you for a little?" She asked kindly.
"Hm - sure, what is it?" Harry asked.
"It's about the Dursleys - I'd like to talk to you in private." Mrs. Weasley said, sounding calm but it's evident she's trying to hide a different emotion.
Harry froze slightly, but as soon as he noticed he did he shook the surprise off and asked, "why?"
"..."
Ron got a hint that he should leave, so he did.
When Ron left Mrs. Weasley closed the kitchen door.
"..." she looked at Harry, clearly not knowing how to begin.
"Are the Dursleys taking good care of you?" She asked, feeling like she could've said something better.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, clueless as to what she actually meant by that question.
"Have they been giving you enough food?" She asked, clearly trying to hide the worry in her voice but her eyes are betraying her.
"Well, they are giving me less food then before..." Harry thought out loud, but as soon as he saw the surprised worried look on Mrs. Weasley's face he immediately added, "but it's okay-!"
"No, no, dear, that's not okay!" She immediately replied.
"But it is! Really!"
"Harry, listen, they shouldn't treat you like that! Look - I've noticed how thin you look, the black eye, and..." she tried to keep her voice from shaking, "and - I think I saw some bruises just beneath your sleeve..." then she suddenly rolled up one of his sleeves and gasped.
Harry immediately flinched and took a reflexive step back and immediately rolled his sleeve back down, trying to hide the surprise and the way he reacted just now.
"Oh my-" her hands flew to her mouth, "my dear - I'm so sorry-!" She doesn't know what to say to that.
Harry just stared at the floor, keeping his sleeves down, squeezing the bottom of the shirt he's wearing in his fists, while actively thinking of a non-rude and non-coward-looking escape route.
"D-did your aunt and uncle do this to you...?" She asked softly, clearly wanting to hug Harry, but not wanting to make him flinch once again.
Harry briefly looked at her but when he saw the worried expression he immediately looked back dwon at the floor, while he didn't say anything in reply.
Although Harry wasn't looking at her, he saw that the stance changed and Harry froze a little at that, but before he could unintentionally take a small step back she lunged herself at him and suddenly hugged him.
"..." Harry didn't hug her back, he's just surprised that she didn't slap him for speaking badly about the Dursleys.
Another day has passed and while the kids ate breakfast Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a drink with a light purple color.
Harry put down his half-eaten toast and looked at Mrs. Weasley in confusion.
"It's for your bruises, dear," she simply answered, trying to hide the worry, "Arthur said his coworker recently made one for himself, so he asked for some for you, they should be gone in an hour after you drink it."
"He didn't have to..." Harry tried, "I'm okay, really,"
"He knows he didn't have to, but take it as a thank you for saving Ron's life last year,"
Harry opened his mouth but Mrs. Weasley gently stopped him, saying that it wasn't any trouble getting the potion.
Harry nodded.
When Mrs. Weasley turned around, going back to making lunch he took the glass, sniffed the potion for his bruises, it smells nice so he reckoned it wouldn't taste horrible either; when he drank a little he realized that his assumption was right, it tasted like strawberries in chocolate and some tasty lemonade, a very interesting taste for a potion...
When the toasts that were on Harry's plate were eaten completely, only leaving crumbs on the plate, the glass was empty, seeing as that was the only drink he had and it tasted pretty darn good.
And, as it turned out, Mrs. Weasley was right - while Harry was outside and played Quidditch with the kids, by the end of the game (which Harry, Fred and Ron had won while George and Ginny have lost) the bruises were completely gone, but no one has noticed it because of how much fun they were having.